Code Central is offering weeklong summer camps for students, allowing them to learn about robotics, coding, and modding video games.

KTNV

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In Nevada's elementary schools, an average of only 15 percent of classroom time is dedicated to science instruction, according to an article by UNLV College of Education instructors David Vallett, Ph.D., and P.G. Schrader, Ph.D.

The article also states that careers in science, technology, engineering, and math are growing significantly faster than the nation's economy as a whole.

“Too few Nevadans consider STEM careers in large part because they are not exposed to STEM education as students or are not made aware of the many exciting career opportunities in STEM available to those with some postsecondary education,” said the State of Nevada’s Advisory Council on STEM in its 2016 Strategic Plan.

To help kids develop an interest in STEM fields, Code Central is offering summer camps centered around robotics, coding, and programming in Minecraft. Students as young as 7 years old and as old as 17 are eligible to enroll in the weeklong camps, which cater to both beginner and experienced programmers.

"It's important to start [students] of young because they tend to pick up on certain concepts that older students would not," said Jose Quijas, one of the instructors at Code Central.

The camps are run by instructors with serious STEM chops - Jose also mentors high school robotics teams, and has helped his students build robots that can lift heavy objects and throw basketballs into hoops. Meanwhile, Eric Mendelsohn, who founded Code Central with his brother Brian, has more than 25 years of experience in teaching and education management.